Callan Motte
Móta Challainn | |||||||||
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  Shown within Ireland | |||||||||
| Location | Westcourt Demesne, Callan, County Kilkenny, Ireland | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Kings River Valley | ||||||||
| Coordinates | 52°32′48″N 7°23′30″W / 52.546657°N 7.391781°W | ||||||||
| Type | motte | ||||||||
| Length | 66 m (217 ft) (at base) | ||||||||
| Width | 48 m (157 ft) (at base) | ||||||||
| Area | 780 m2 (8,400 sq ft) (summit area) | ||||||||
| Diameter | 40 m (130 ft) | ||||||||
| Height | 12 metres (39 ft) | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| Builder | Geoffrey FitzRobert | ||||||||
| Material | earth | ||||||||
| Founded | c. 1217 | ||||||||
| Periods | Norman Ireland | ||||||||
| Cultures | Cambro-Norman, Old English | ||||||||
| Associated with | Normans | ||||||||
| Site notes | |||||||||
| Public access | yes | ||||||||
| Designation |
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Callan Motte is a motte-and-bailey and National Monument in Callan, Ireland.[1][2]
Location
Callan Motte is in the centre of Callan, north of the Kings River, west of Upper Bridge Street and east of the N76.[3]
History and archaeology
Motte-and-bailey castles were a primitive type of castle built after the Norman invasion, a mound of earth topped by a wooden palisade and tower.[4]
Callan Motte was built c. 1217 by Geoffrey FitzRobert, seneschal to William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. In 1307 it was described as ‘a castle, in which there is a hall constructed of wood covered with wooden shingles, a stone chamber, a kitchen and other wooden chambers’.[5]
Local legend claims that cannons were placed on the motte by Oliver Cromwell's soldiers during the 1650 Siege of Callan.
References
- ^ "Callan Motte - Attractions - Museums and Attractions - All Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Kilkenny - Callan - Discover Ireland". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Clutterbuck, R., Elliott, I. & Shanahan, B. `The motte and manor of Callan, Co. Kilkenny'". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Kilkenny Archaeology - Photos - Facebook". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Geograph:: Callan Motte (C) dougf". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Meet In Ireland - Search Details". Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.